"Early in the evening of June 19th, during an aerial reconnaissance mission above Mirror Lake west of Outpost Camp, search crews located what is believed to be the remains of missing hiker John Likely in an extremely steep chute. The recovery is technical, and requires specialized equipment and search and rescue expertise."

I have no personal experience with meet-up hiking - I generally prefer to go solo or with a small group of people I know and trust - but I had an experience a few years ago in Yosemite on Mt. Dana that blew my mind. My family and I were about halfway up and took what was planned to be a short break. A few minutes later a stream of hikers began to go by - literally dozens. Our break went much longer than planned because there was really no way to jump back on the trail without literally merging.

We watched this in growing fascination and finally saw an opportunity to get on the trail after maybe 60 folks had gone by. We discovered they were a meet-up group out of SoCal and were training for - you guessed it - Mt. Whitney. On the descent we were ahead of this main group and were still running into a people on ascent who asked if we had seen a group of meet-up hikers along the way. These folks were easily 3 hours behind that first main group, and clearly struggling. I never did see anyone who I could identify as a sweep.

I remember looking at my wife and we said the same thing simultaneously - "Like herding cats."

This is not unusual with the meetup or the Sierra Club in SoCal. They regularly pull multiple day hike permits for San Gorgonio Wilderness day hikes. I see it daily with my meetup notifications, in Sierra Club postings and out on the trails. I've heard all the justifications for it. The bottom line is your group is not supposed to exceed a dozen.

Saturday, one group had 2 permits of twelve, the lost hiker incident I pointed out on the Vivian Creek Trail had 3 permits for 36.

People rarely hike together for 30 year if not married, unless they have similar hiking speeds and styles. So this fellow was definitely way behind his friends GOING DOWNHILL. There must be a reason.

We have a semiregular partner who is slow going up but is blazing fast down and does not use safe practices, like stopping a trail junctions for friends to catch up, etc.

It has cost him a few times...going down an avy chute of Baden-Powell and a dip in Lone Pine Creek below Lone Pine Lake. Still he hikes with up. We shamed him for the former and he claims to have changed his ways.

Very sad news. Condolences to John's friends and family. It's always tough when a true backcountry enthusiast doesn't make it home. Rest in peace, John.

If I'm reading the description right, it sounds like the culprit was likely the slabs above Mirror Lake that we've discussed on this thread - eerily close to where Shayam Das went over last year. It may be time for the NFS to consider signage in this area.

There is a little area of switchbacks just above the Permit Only sign past Lone Pine Lake that I thought could lead to disaster. It is a spot on the way down where the trail is not completely evident and there is a path right that looks like a trail that goes right off the cliff. In the dark I was leading my father and I took a few steps that way before realizing my mistake. I can realize how this type of mistake could happen.

Separately, I think I understand where the accident happened. I believe we actually saw a couple hikers attempting to make their way down the chute during our hike. Deep condolences to the family and hoping the family can find peace.

I have been checking back daily in hopes of them finding this man alive. I am saddened to hear of his death. It makes me more aware of the fact to not take this mountain for granted. I will be extra careful on my trip next week and hope everyone will take this as a reminder to be safe out there.

Seems odd to say thank you for this very sad news but thank you just the same. Mr. Likely has been heavy on a lot of people's minds, most of all his family. I wish his Mt. Whitney hike would have had a happy ending. My prayers go out to his family and fellow hikers.

My friend and I left Outpost at 9:00 pm Sunday evening heading for a sunrise summit.We stopped at Outpost to add a layer and take a short rest. We did not encounter a sole until Trail Crest Junction at 4:00 am Monday morning. If anyone knows where Mr Likely was found, would you please post it on a map? I don't mean to be disrespectful or morbid, I just need to know. This has been bothering both me and my hike partner all week and we just want to know.

I am curious as well..if only to make sure I take extra precautions. Already I am telling myself GO LEFT, GO LEFT at the granite slabs when Mirror Lake comes into view!!! People keep telling me the trail is like a freeway, just follow the trail. You can't go wrong. Well, that is evidently not completely correct.